Fountain comb



Patented July 14, 1953 kUNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN COMB Moses0. Decker, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 29, 1952, Serial No. 290,785

Claims. (Cl. 132-13) .i This invention relates to a fountain comb and 1sespecially adapted for the purpose of supplying lanolin or other liquidto the scalp.

The object of my present invention is to provide such a device that maybe actuated automatically upon contact of the teeth of the comb with thehead of the user, under suitable pressure, so as to thereby feed asuitable quantity of the liquid directly to the scalp.

Another object is to devise such a comb that is of simple constructionand may be manufactured and sold at a popular price.

Other objects will appear from the following description when consideredtogether with the ac companying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my present device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a View taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of Fig. 3.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely forthe purpose of illustration and that there might be variousmodifications thereof Without departing from the spirit of myinventionvas herein set forth and claimed.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the body I ofplastic or other suitable material is provided with a reservoir 2 forthe lanolin in liquid form, or other liquid, this reservoirV beingclosed by the readily removable screw closure 3 at the one end thereof.The body I has formed also as an integral part thereof the chamber 4that has communication with the reservoir 2 through the restrictedopenings 5 so as to permit feeding of the lanolin or other liquid fromthe reservoir to the chamber 4. The chamber 4 may be closed by thereadily removable closure rIi that is screw-threaded.

The lower side of the body I has extending downwardly therefrom theintegrally formed teeth 'I which are hollow land each of which has anopening 8 at the upper end thereof for communication with the chamber 4and has a valve member 9 with its stem I0 extending therethrough inspaced relation theretov so as to permit flow of the lanolin or otherliquid. The valve 9 in each instance is adapted to close thecorresponding opening 8; and all of the valves 9 are adapted to benormally closed and held closed by the tubular resilient Ymember I I ofrubber or rubber-like material which may have both ends closed. Themember II is located within the chamber 4 and is adapted to have bearingengagement against the projections I 2 on the inner wall of thechamprovide the spaces I3 between the tubular member I I and the upperinside surface of the chamber 4 for a purpose to be explained. Theengagement of the tubular member II with the valves 9 will aioid spacesalso between the member I I vand the inside wall of the chamber 4 at theVpoints between the valves 9, as illustrated in/the present drawing. Infact, as indicated, there is space between the member II and the wall ofthe chamber 4 entirely thereabout except for its points of engagementwith the projections I2 and the valves 9. This combined space betweenthe member II and the Wall of the chamber 4 will serve to receive asuitable quantity of the lanolin or other liquid from the reservoir 2preparatory to its being fed through the valve openings in the manner tobe explained. y c

The integrally formed valve members 9 and I0 maybe made of nylon orother such material that will affordsuitable resilience to permit themto be placed in operative position by `insertion through the opening inthe side of the chamber 4 that may then be closed by the cover I4 whichis then sealed in such position by means of a suitable cement about theedges thereof.

With a supply of lanoliny or other liquid in the reservoir and uponcontact of the ends of the valve stems I0 with proper pressure againstthe head of the user, the valves 9 may be opened against the tension ofthe tubular member Il, whereupon some of the liquid will flow outthrough the hollow teeth 'I from the chamber 4. By placf.- ing the endsof the stems I0 in direct engagement with the scalp, the liquid may besupplied in a direct manner to the scalp and henceto the roots of thehair without having to apply it to all of the hair. At the same time,the resilient member II will be compressed upwardly against the openings5 so as to temporarily close the same. Then, upon release of thepressure of the valve stems I0 from engagement with lthe head of theuser, the valves 9 will be automatically closed by action oftheresilient member I I; and the downward expansive action of the member IIwill at the c same time uncover the openings 5 and thus serve to drawsome ofthe liquid from the reservoir 2 into the chamber 4 to replacethat which has just been discharged through the openings 8 and to beready for delivery out through the openings `8 and the hollow teeth 'Ito the scalp when next applied to the head of the user.

Thus the resilient member I Iy performs several functions. While itnormally tends to hold closed the valves 9, it also permits the valvesto be opened against the tension of the member l I which will thenautomatically close the same. Also, the member Il by its compressive andexpansive actions in turn, serves as a means of permitting flow of theliquid thereabout and of drawing a suitable quantity of the liquid fromthe reservoir 2 through the openings 5 into the chamber 4 preparatory tobeing fed therefrom through the valve openings 8 and down through thehollow teeth 1 and out along the stems I0 which have suitable clearancein the teeth 1 for this purpose, including the point of exit therefromin each instance. Furthermore, the member Il may serve as a cushioningmeans that will automatically compensate for any irregularities in thesurface of the head of the user.

It is to be understood that, with my form and arrangement of thereservoir 2, chamber 4, openings and 8, as well as the arrangement ofthe tubular member l I within the chamber 4 and the spaces providedthereabout, the manner of operation of the valve stems I0 and the valves9 carried thereby, and the clearance about each stem I0 in the openingat the lower end of each hollow tooth 1, there may be suflicient meansof air communication to permit flow of the lanolin or other liquid inthe manner herein contemplated. Also, the lanolin or other liquid may beof such viscosity as to permit iiow of the same in the manner as hereinprovided but without danger of accidental escape of the same past thevalves when in closed position.

It is believed that the practical advantages of this invention will beapparent to those who are familiar with the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

l. A fountain comb comprising a body having a reservoir for a liquid andhaving a chamber therebelow in communication therewith so as to receiveliquid therefrom said body having hollow teeth extending downwardly fromsaid chamber and having individual openings at the upper ends thereof topermit flow of the liquid from said chamber, a valve member extendingthrough each of said hollow teeth and in spaced relation thereto andadapted to control the flow of the liquid through the opening from saidchamber, and resilient means within said chamber for normally holdingsaid valve members in closed position, and said valve members eachextending normally beyond the outlet end of its hollow tooth and beingadapted to be opened by engagement of its outer end with the head of theuser and against the tension of said resilient means.

2. A fountain comb comprising a body having a reservoir for a liquid andhaving a chamber therebelow in communication therewith so as to receiveliquid therefrom, said body having hollow teeth extending downwardlyfrom said chamber and having individual openings at the upper endsthereof to permit flow of the liquid from said chamber, a valve memberextending through each of said hollow teeth and in spaced relationthereto and adapted to control the llow of the liquid through theopening from said chamber, a resilient rubber-like means within saidchamber and normally holding said Valve members in position closing saidopenings, and said valve members each extending normally beyond theoutlet end of its hollow tooth and being adapted to be opened byengagement of its outer end with the head of the user and against thetension of said rubber-like means.

3. A fountain comb comprising a body having a reservoir for a liquid andhaving a chamber therebelow in communication therewith so as to receiveliquid therefrom, said body having hollow teeth extending downwardlyfrom said chamber and having individual openings at the upper endsthereof to permit flow of the liquid from said chamber, a valve memberextending through each of said hollow teeth and in spaced relationthereto and adapted to control the flow of the liquid through theopening from said chamber, and a cylindrical resilient rubber-likemember having slight clearance within said chamber and having engagementwith said valve members so as to normally hold the same in closedposition, and said valve members each extending normally beyond theoutlet end of its hollow tooth and being adapted to be opened byengagement o! its outer end with the head of the user and against thetension of said rubber-like member.

4. A fountain comb comprising a body having a reservoir for a liquid andhaving an integrally formed chamber therebelow in communicationtherewith so as to receive liquid therefrom, said body having integrallyformed hollow teeth eX- tending downwardly from said chamber and havingindividual openings at the upper ends thereof to permit iiow of theliquid from said chamber. a valve member extending through each of saidhollow teeth and in spaced relation thereto and adapted to control theflow of the liquid through the opening from said chamber, and acylindrical resilient rubber-like member having slight clearance withinsaid chamber and having engagement with said valve members so as to holdthe same normally in closed position, and said valve members eachextending normally beyond the outlet end of its hollow tooth and beingadapted to be opened by engagement of its outer end with the head of theuser and against the tension of said rubber-like member.

5. A fountain comb comprising a body having a reservoir for a liquid andhaving an integrally formed chamber therebelow with means of restrictedcommunication therewith so as to receive liquid therefrom, said bodyhaving integrally formed hollow teeth extending downwardly from saidchamber and having individual openings at the upper ends thereof topermit flow of the liquid from said chamber, a valve member extendingthrough each of said hollow teeth and in spaced relation thereto andadapted to control the flow of the liquid through the correspondingopening from said chamber, and a cylindrical compressible and resilientrubber-like member normally having slight clearance with respect to saidmeans of communication with said reservoir and having engagement withsaid valve members so as to hold the same normally in closed position,and said valve members each extending normally beyond the outlet end ofits hollow tooth and being adapted to be opened by engagement of itsouter end with the head of the user and to compress said rubber-likemember against said means of communication with said reservoirpreparatory to its withdrawing liquid from said reservoir upon releaseof said rubber-like member.

MOSES O. DECKER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 665,608 Kotz Jan. 8, 1901 790,857 Taaife et al May 23, 19051,664,168 Harris Mar. 27, 1928 1,704,959 Ames Mar. 12, 1929

